Clothes clamp



Jan. 31, 1950 G. C. TERRY CLOTHES CLAMP Filed Nov. 1, 1945 Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNE'EED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES CLAMP George C. Terry, Flushing, N. Y.

Application November 1, 1945, Serial No. 626,041

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to clamps and while not limited thereto the invention has particular reference to an improved clamp for fastening clothes and the like in depending relation from a line for drying or airing.

The invention has for an object an improved clamp of the indicated character in which a spring member pivotally connects the clamping members together and tensions the same against relative separation of the clamping ends thereof and which also functions to retain the parts in assembled relation.

The invention also comprehends an improved clamp including a spring member having an arcuate or coiled bight portion and oppositely disposed mating free ends which engage through apertures in the confronting walls of the clamping members to thereby pivotally connect the clamping members together and tension the clamping ends thereof against relative separation.

The invention further has in view a clamp of the indicated character in which the clamping members are formed with outwardly projecting portions engaged by the free ends of the spring member for retaining the clamping members in longitudinal alignment.

The invention also includes clamping members having recesses in the confronting walls thereof and apertures opening therethrough forwardly of the recesses for receiving the free ends of the spring through said apertures with the arcuate or coiled portion thereof engaging in said recesses, the spring functioning to pivotally connect the members to ether and to tension the clamping ends of the said members for grippingly engaging an article therebetween.

With the foregoing and other objects in view reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of spring member.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the clamp includes mating elongated members l0 and H preferably fashioned of metal such as aluminum or other rustless or non-corrosive material, which members are identical, and each consists of a clamping portion 12 at the forward end thereof and a hand manipulating portion l3 at the opposite end, and between said portions the said members are formed substantially medial of their length with mating transversely extending arcuate recesses [4 in the confronting walls l5 thereof. The said clamping portions I2 are each provided with a rectangular slot [6 opening through the wall 15 thereof at the juncture of the recess I4 with the clamping portion I 2, and adjacent the forward ends of said clamping portions the walls 15 thereof are formed with oppositely disposed mating arcuate recesses l1 and I8 forming transversely extending ribs I9 between said recesses which provides means for grippingly engaging articles between the said clamping portions. The ends of said clamping portions I2 each terminate in an outwardly flared lip 20 to thereby provide a smooth entrance between the said portions for facilitating the insertion of articles therebetween.

The hand manipulating portions l3 of the said members It] and II diverge outwardly from the arcuate recesses I4 so as to provide a sufficient clearance therebetween to permit of the inward movement thereof for opening or spreading the clamping portions l2 apart in order to permit of the insertion of articles between the clamping portions. Extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of the confronting walls l5 of each of the members l0 and II is an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 2| which provides side walls for the said members Ill and II and serves to strengthen the walls l5 thereof. Between the recesses l4 and I8 each of the flanges 2| of the clamping portions l2 converges inwardly as at 22 adjacent the walls [5 to provide a restricted space therebetween for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth.

In order to pivotally connect the members 10 and l I together, a spring member fashioned from flat spring material is provided which consists of an arcuate portion 23 and oppositely disposed mating free ends 24 extending forwardly from the arcuate or bight portion and which are outwardly bowed and have outwardly curved terminals 25.

The spring member is arranged with the arcuate portion 23 disposed between the members I0 and II and contacting with the outer faces defining the recesses M with the free ends 24 of said spring protruding through the slots l6 of the confronting walls 15 and engaging in the restricted spaces formed by the converging portions 22 of the flanges 2| and with the terminals 25 of said free ends 24 located adjacent the arcuate recesses Ill. The free ends 2! of the said spring are spread apart when inserted through the slots l6 so that the free ends respectively exert inward tension on the clamping portions l2 of the members l0 and H to thereby normally retain the said clamping portions in closed relation, and the said clamping portions may be opened or spread apart by an inward movement of the hand manipulating portions [3 with the arcuate portion 23 of the spring serving as the fulcrum or pivotal point thereof.

Instead of the spring member fashioned from fiat spring material hereinbefore described the spring member may be fashioned from a length of spring wire as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In this form the spring member consists of a helical coil 26 comprising a plurality of adjacent convolutions andoppositely disposed mating free ends 21 projecting outwardly from the outermost convolutions. One of the free ends 21 extends forwardly from one side of the convolution at one endwhile the opposite free end 21 extends forwardly from the opposite side of the convolution at the opposite end so that said free ends cross each other adjacent the coil. The free ends 21 are outwardly bowed longitudinally and at the forward .end thereof are bent laterally as at 28 with the terminals 29 extending rearwardly in parallel relation with the opposite free end. The said spring'isadapte'd to be employed in a manner similar't'o the form 'hereinbefore described, the same being engaged in the recesses M to pivotally connect the members I0 and II together with the free ends 'of the Spring protruding through the slots l5 and engaging in the restricted space defined by the converging portions 22 of the flanges of the said members and with the transversely extend- 4 ing portions 28 of said free ends tehsioned against the outer faces of the walls [5 for nor- I mally retaining the clamping members [2 in closed relation. The free ends of the said spring members engage at the opposite sides with the inner faces of the converging walls 22 of the flanges 2| for maintaining the members I0 and l l; in longitudinal alignment.

,What is claimed is:

In a clamp of the indicated character, a pair of confronting aligned mating members each having a bottom wall, and each consisting of afclamping portion at one end thereof, a hand manipulating portion at the opposite end and a; transversely extending recess formed in the bottom wall thereof and located between said clamping and manipulating portions, said clamping portions havin mating slots opening through the bottom walls thereof and longitudinally extending outwardly projecting rims at the opposite sides thereof, and a fiat spring member formed into an arcuate portion and oppositely dis- Lposed mating free ends located with said arcuate portion interfitted in said recesses and with the [free ends protruding through said slots and tenf sioned against the other faces of the said bottom walls between said rims and functioning to connect the said members together for outward swinging movement of the clamping portions against the tension of said spring member for inserting and grippingly engaging an article therebetween and for retaining said mating members in longitudinal alignment.

GEORGE C. TERRY. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 160,661 Farrington et a1. Mar. 9, 1875 1,357,233 Hagelstein Nov. 2, 1920 1,538,970 Busby May 26, 1925 

